DrugRehab.com provides information regarding illicit and prescription drug
addiction, the various populations at risk for the disease, current statistics and trends, and
psychological disorders that often accompany addiction. You will also find information on spotting
the signs and symptoms of substance use and hotlines for immediate assistance.

Treatment for addiction takes many forms and depends on the needs of the individual.
In accordance with the American Society of Addiction Medicine, we offer information on
outcome-oriented treatment that adheres to an established continuum of care. In this section, you
will find information and resources related to evidence-based treatment models, counseling and
therapy and payment and insurance options.

Treatment for addiction takes many forms and depends on the needs of the
individual. In accordance with the American Society of Addiction Medicine, we offer
information on outcome-oriented treatment that adheres to an established continuum of
care. In this section, you will find information and resources related to evidence-based
treatment models, counseling and therapy and payment and insurance options.

The recovery process doesn't end after 90 days of treatment. The transition back to
life outside of rehab is fraught with the potential for relapse. Aftercare resources such as
12-step groups, sober living homes and support for family and friends promote a life rich with
rewarding relationships and meaning.

Our community offers unique perspectives on lifelong recovery and substance use
prevention, empowering others through stories of strength and courage. From people in active
recovery to advocates who have lost loved ones to the devastating disease of addiction, our
community understands the struggle and provides guidance born of personal experience.

Alcoholism Linked to Divorce, Studies Suggest

Divorce or widowhood may increase a person’s risk of developing alcohol addiction, according to researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University and Lund University in Sweden.

In a 2017 report published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, researchers examined the relationship between divorce and alcoholism among more than 942,000 married people in Sweden who lived with their spouse in or after 1990.

These individuals were born between 1960 and 1990 and had no history of alcohol addiction prior to marriage.

The results showed that spousal loss through divorce or bereavement increased the risk of alcohol addiction among both men and women. However, women were more likely than men to develop the disease upon divorce, the report indicated.

The study also found that divorce increased the risk of alcoholism in people with a family history of the disease or with prior behavior problems. However, divorced people who remarried showed a large decline in alcohol addiction.

“The study shows that interpersonal relationships can have a profound influence on risk for alcohol use disorder, said Dr. Kenneth S. Kendler, first author of the study. “Social factors are really important.”

Kendler, a professor of psychiatry and human and molecular genetics in the VCU School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry , said the stress of divorce is not the main cause of the increased risk of alcohol addiction.

Instead, the loss of protective factors of marriage was linked to an increased risk of contracting alcohol addiction. For example, Kendler suggested that married partners often prevent each other from engaging in dangerous behaviors such as smoking and drinking.

The research team is conducting another study to understand how having children influences the development of alcoholism.

Alcoholism and Divorce Examined in Previous Study

The study was an extension of a previous report by the same research team. Published in the journal Addiction, the 2016 report investigated the genetic and environmental factors that influence a relationship between alcohol addiction and divorce.

The report evaluated national population registries to identify twin and sibling pairs with alcohol addiction and divorce information. In total, researchers analyzed the information of 670,836 Swedish people born between 1940 and 1965. Men represented 53 percent of the sample.

Researchers identified a strong correlation between alcohol addiction and divorce. They also found that those with the set of genes common to both alcoholism and divorce may increase the risk for experiencing both occurrences.

Environmental factors also influence the correlation between alcoholism and divorce, according to the report.

Dr. Jessica Salvatore, lead author of the 2016 study, said genetic factors accounted for about 50 percent of the link between divorce and the disease. Environmental elements represented the remaining amount.

Salvatore said the study may help health care professionals treat people experiencing alcohol addiction and spousal loss.

Heavy Drinking Can Lead to Divorce

Both studies by VCU and Swedish researchers show divorce can result in alcoholism. Conversely, heavy drinking can lead to divorce.

Researchers at the University at Buffalo Research Institute on Addictions tracked 634 couples during their first nine years of marriage. Couples with one spouse who was a heavy drinker had a higher divorce rate than that of other couples, the 2013 study found.

Nearly 50 percent of marriages ended in divorce if only one partner was a heavy drinker, defined as consuming six or more drinks at once or drinking to become drunk. Among nondrinking couples, 30 percent experienced divorce.

The study also showed that the divorce rate for couples with two heavy drinkers was on par with that of couples with no heavy drinkers.

In 2015, the United States experienced 16.9 divorces per 1,000 married women aged 15 or older, according to the National Center for Family and Marriage Research. That year, more than 1 million women divorced.

Matt Gonzales is a writer and researcher for DrugRehab.com. He graduated with a degree in journalism from East Carolina University and began his professional writing career in 2011. Matt covers the latest drug trends and shares inspirational stories of people who have overcome addiction. Certified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in health literacy, Matt leverages his experience in addiction research to provide hope to those struggling with substance use disorders.